Stevens Sweeps Alfred to Improve Empire 8 Record to 2-0

Stevens Sweeps Alfred to Improve Empire 8 Record to 2-0

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ALFRED, N.Y. (April 6, 2013) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s tennis team completed its 2-0 start to Empire 8 Conference play with a 9-0 sweep at Alfred University on Saturday afternoon just hours after the team’s 8-1 win at St. John Fisher College.

Senior Chris Rosensteel (East Windsor, N.J.) became the program's all-time leader on all three career wins lists.  Already sole leader in combined wins as of Wednesday, he moved into sole possession of the singles (71) and doubles (68) records.

Stevens moves above .500 for the first time this spring at 6-5, with all five losses coming to national top-23 teams, while Alfred drops to 3-6 (0-1).

The Ducks took the court almost immediately after the two-hour bus ride from Pittsford, N.Y. but showed no lingering signs from the trip, with all three doubles teams going up by a break early and finishing in quick succession.  Rosensteel and freshman Matthew Heinrich (Hendersonville, Tenn.) cruised to an 8-1 win at first doubles while freshman Tyler Tisdale (Grapevine, Texas) and junior Derek Smith (Boise, Idaho) won 8-2 at second doubles and freshman Jacob Thigpen (Birmingham, Ala.) and sophomore Daniel Szwarc (Metuchen, N.J.) took third doubles, 8-3.

Stevens carried the momentum right into singles play as all six Ducks won in straight sets.  Rosensteel and Heinrich both won 6-1, 6-0 at first and second singles, respectively, while senior Shota Tasaki (Greenwich, Conn.) improved his record at #3 to 2-1 with a 6-3, 6-0 win.  Tisdale swept his opponent at fourth singles while Smith won 6-1, 6-0 at fifth singles and Thigpen took sixth singles 6-0, 6-3 to improve to 2-0 this spring.

Head Coach Steve Gachko and the Ducks will return to the court next Saturday as they look to pick up the program’s first-ever win over a ranked opponent at No. 27 Skidmore College.